A tradition will come to light once again in Altadena.
Nearly a year after the Eaton Fire ravaged the neighborhood, the city’s historic Christmas Tree Lane will be lit once again, starting on Saturday, with more than 20,000 lights glowing along Santa Rosa Avenue.
The famous cedar tree of Christmas Tree Lane are decked out in colorful blubs, ready to be lit in for the kick-off ceremony at 6 p.m. Saturday.
It’ll be the 105th lighting ceremony for Christmas Tree Lane at the time when many say light is needed in the continued journey to rebuild Altadena.
It took less time to prepare for a kick-off, according to Christmas Tree Lane Association President Scott Wardlaw. Because of great response from the public, the organizers and volunteers got it done in eight weeks, well ahead of the schedule.
“It’s all done manually,” Wardlaw said. “We have no heavy-duty equipment. We have pulleys at the tops of these tree and ropes on a loop.”
When organizers discovered the deodar cedars, which planted here in 1885, survived the Eaton Fire, they knew they wanted to get the lights up and continue the century-old tradition.
“This year, because so few people live here now, we didn’t know what to expect, and the turnout was great,” Wardlaw explained.
Christmas Tree Lane is what the Altadena community needs, according to Len Schaustal, a member of the association.
“For so many of us that lost everything, it’s a sense of normalcy, a sense of hope, a moment of joy,” Schaustal, who lost his home on Mendocino Street said.
There will also be a memorial tree for the 19 Altadenans who lost their lives in the fire. White lights will offset the rest of the colorful blubs along the way, one green bulb for each person who perished in the Eaton Fire.
“It’s a somber reminder, but an uplifting reminder, too. Green is a color of hope and rebirth and renewal,” said Wardlaw.
The ceremony will feature several new touches, including a moment of silence that will last one minute and 19 seconds for the 19 Altadena residents who died in the disaster.
Actor Edward James Olmos will be the emcee.
Longtime volunteer families will help flip the switch alongside LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena in the 5th District.
When the lights return Saturday, visitors may notice the display shining brighter than before. A donation from the Walt Disney Co., which employs many Altadena residents, funded thousands of additional lights for this year’s show.
The Altadena Christmas Tree Lane, located near the Eaton Fire burn scar zone, has been considered one of the largest and oldest outdoor holiday lighting display in the nation.
Since the 1920s, neighbors and volunteers spent months stringing lights with ropes and pulleys. When the Eaton Fire broke out in January 2025, some of the holiday lights were still wrapped around the trees.
The lights will be up through the first week of January.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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